(If you can, go to mass today. If you can't, read the mass propers
for today, found on pages 186-187of the Book of Common Prayer.)

First Lesson
Isaiah 6:1-8
1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting
upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with
twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet,
and with twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is
the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried,
and the house was filled with smoke.5 Then
said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean
lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for
mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal
in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched
thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send,
and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Second Lesson
1 Peter 1:1-12
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered
throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through
sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of
the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a
lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,4 To
an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth
not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need
be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than
of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be
found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus
Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him
not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full
of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your
souls.
10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched
diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto
you:
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ
which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the
sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto
us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto
you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy
Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to
look into.

First Lesson
Ecclesiasticus 43:1-12, 27-33
1 The pride of the height, the clear firmament, the beauty of
heaven, with his glorious shew;
2 The sun when it appeareth, declaring at his rising a marvellous
instrument, the work of the most High:
3 At noon it parcheth the country, and who can abide the burning
heat thereof?
4 A man blowing a furnace is in works of heat, but the sun burneth
the mountains three times more: breathing out fiery vapours,
and sending forth bright beams, it dimmeth the eyes.
5 Great is the Lord that made it; and at his commandment it runneth
hastily.
6 He made the moon also to serve in her season for a declaration
of times, and a sign of the world.
7 From the moon is the sign of feasts, a light that decreaseth
in her perfection.
8 The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully
in her changing, being an instrument of the armies above, shining
in the firmament of heaven:
9 The beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars, an ornament giving
light in the highest places of the Lord.
10 At the commandment of the Holy One they will stand in their
order, and never faint in their watches.
11 Look upon the rainbow, and praise him that made it; very beautiful
it is in the brightness thereof.
12 It compasseth the heaven about with a glorious circle, and
the hands of the most High have bended it.

Second Lesson
Ephesians 4:1-16
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye
walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing
one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace.4 There
is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope
of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all,
and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure
of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity
captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended
first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above
all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge
of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the
stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro,
and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight
of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all
things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted
by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual
working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the
body unto the edifying of itself in love.

First Lesson
Numbers 16:1-14
1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of
Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son
of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children
of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous
in the congregation, men of renown:
3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against
Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing
all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD
is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the
congregation of the LORD?
4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:
5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even
tomorrow the LORD will show who are his, and who is holy; and
will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen
will he cause to come near unto him.
6 This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;
7 And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD
tomorrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose,
he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.
8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:
9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel
hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring
you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the
LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?
10 And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren
the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?
11 For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered
together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur
against him?
12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab:
which said, We will not come up:
13 Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a
land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness,
except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?
14 Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth
with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards:
wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.

Second Lesson
Luke 1:1-25
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order
a declaration of those things which are most surely believed
among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning
were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding
of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order,
most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein
thou hast been instructed.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain
priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was
of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the
commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and
they both were now well stricken in years.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office
before God in the order of his course,
9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was
to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without
at the time of incense.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing
on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell
upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy
prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son,
and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice
at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall
drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with
the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord
their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias,
to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient
to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for
the Lord.
18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this?
for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that
stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee,
and to show thee these glad tidings.20 And,
behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the
day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest
not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he
tarried so long in the temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they
perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned
unto them, and remained speechless.
23 And it came to pass, that as soon as the days of his ministration
were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid
herself five months, saying,25 Thus
hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on
me, to take away my reproach among men.

The First
Lesson
Ezra 1:1-8
1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word
of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the
LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made
a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in
writing, saying,
2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath
given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me
to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him,
and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build
the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is
in Jerusalem.
4 And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let
the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and
with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for
the house of God that is in Jerusalem.
5 Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin,
and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit
God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which
is in Jerusalem.
6 And all they that were about them strengthened their hands
with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts,
and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.
7 Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house
of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem,
and had put them in the house of his gods;
8 Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand
of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar,
the prince of Judah.

The Second
Lesson
Acts 7:1-16
1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of
glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia,
before he dwelt in Charran,
3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy
kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee.
4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in
Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed
him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as
to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to
him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet
he had no child.
6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in
a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage,
and entreat them evil four hundred years.
7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge,
said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me
in this place.
8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham
begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat
Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt:
but God was with him,
10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him
favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and
he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan,
and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent
out our fathers first.
13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren;
and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.
14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and
all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre
that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the
father of Sychem.

The First
Lesson
Numbers 16:15-35
15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect
not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them,
neither have I hurt one of them.
16 And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before
the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, tomorrow:
17 And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and
bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and
fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.
18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them,
and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle
of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.
19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto
the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory
of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.
20 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may
consume them in a moment.
22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of
the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be
wroth with all the congregation?
23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about
the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the
elders of Israel followed him.
26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray
you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of
theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.
27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram,
on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the
door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their
little children.
28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent
me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own
mind.
29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be
visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not
sent me.
30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth,
and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they
go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these
men have provoked the LORD.
31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all
these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:
32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and
their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and
all their goods.
33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into
the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from
among the congregation.
34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry
of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the
two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

The Second
Lesson
Luke 1:26-38
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God
unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the
house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that
art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou
among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and
cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast
found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth
a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest:
and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father
David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of
his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I
know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall
come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow
thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee
shall be called the Son of God.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived
a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who
was called barren.37 For
with God nothing shall be impossible.38 And
Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according
to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

The First
Lesson
Ezra 4:7, 11-24
7 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel,
and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia;
and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue,
and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even
unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the
river, and at such a time.
12 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from
thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and
the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the
foundations.
13 Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded,
and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute,
and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.
14 Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and
it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore
have we sent and certified the king;
15 That search may be made in the book of the records of thy
fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know
that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and
provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same
of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.
16 We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and
the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion
on this side the river.
17 Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and
to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that
dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace,
and at such a time.
18 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before
me.
19 And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found
that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings,
and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have
ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute,
and custom, was paid unto them.
21 Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that
this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be
given from me.
22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage
grow to the hurt of the kings?
23 Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before
Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went
up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease
by force and power.
24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem.
So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king
of Persia.

The Second
Lesson
Acts 7:17-34
17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had
sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
19 The same dealt subtly with our kindred, and evil entreated
our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the
end they might not live.
20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and
nourished up in his father's house three months:
21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up,
and nourished him for her own son.
22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians,
and was mighty in words and in deeds.
23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart
to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and
avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that
God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
26 And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove,
and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren;
why do ye wrong one to another?
27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying,
Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the
land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in
the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame
of fire in a bush.
31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew
near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled,
and durst not behold.33 Then
said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the
place where thou standest is holy ground.
34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which
is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down
to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

The First
Lesson
Numbers 17:1-11
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of
them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their
princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods:
write thou every man's name upon his rod.
3 And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for
one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.
4 And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation
before the testimony, where I will meet with you.
5 And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall
choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings
of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.
6 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one
of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one,
according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the
rod of Aaron was among their rods.
7 And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle
of witness.8 And
it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle
of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi
was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and
yielded almonds.
9 And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto
all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man
his rod.
10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before
the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and
thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they
die not.11 And
Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he.

The Second
Lesson
Luke 1:39-56
39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country
with haste, into a city of Judah;
40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation
of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled
with the Holy Ghost:
42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art
thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should
come to me?
44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in
mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance
of those things which were told her from the Lord.46 And
Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for,
behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy
is his name.
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to
generation.
51 He hath shown strength with his arm; he hath scattered the
proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted
them of low degree.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he
hath sent empty away.
54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for
ever.
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to
her own house.

The First
Lesson
Haggai 1:1-8, 12-15
1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month,
in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai
the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of
Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,
2 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The
time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built.
3 Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,
4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and
this house lie waste?
5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.6 Ye
have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not
enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe
you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth
wages to put it into a bag with holes.
7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house;
and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith
the LORD.
12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of
Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people,
obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai
the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people
did fear before the LORD.
13 Then spake Haggai the LORD'S messenger in the LORD'S message
unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD.
14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of
Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son
of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant
of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the
LORD of hosts, their God,
15 In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second
year of Darius the king.

The Second
Lesson
Acts 7:35-53
35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler
and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer
by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
36 He brought them out, after that he had shown wonders and signs
in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness
forty years.
37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel,
A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren,
like unto me; him shall ye hear.
38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with
the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our
fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them,
and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for
this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot
not what is become of him.
41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice
unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven;
as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel,
have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space
of forty years in the wilderness?
43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of
your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and
I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness,
as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make
it according to the fashion that he had seen.
45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus
into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before
the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle
for the God of Jacob.
47 But Solomon built him an house.
48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
as saith the prophet,
49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house
will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my
rest?
50 Hath not my hand made all these things?51 Ye
stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always
resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and
they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the
Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and
have not kept it.

The First
Lesson
Numbers 20:1-13
1 Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation,
into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode
in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered
themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.3 And
the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that
we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!
4 And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into
this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring
us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs,
or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to
drink.
6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly
unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they
fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto
them.
7 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou,
and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their
eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring
forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation
and their beasts drink.
9 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded
him.
10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before
the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we
fetch you water out of this rock?
11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the
rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation
drank, and their beasts also.12 And
the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not,
to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore
ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have
given them.
13 This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel
strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

The Second
Lesson
Luke 1:57-66
57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered;
and she brought forth a son.
58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had
shown great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise
the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his
father.
60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be
called John.
61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that
is called by this name.
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name
is John. And they marvelled all.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed,
and he spake, and praised God.65 And
fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings
were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts,
saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the
Lord was with him.

The First
Lesson
Haggai 2:1-9
1 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month,
came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,
2 Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah,
and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the
residue of the people, saying,
3 Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory?
and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison
of it as nothing?
4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong,
O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all
ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with
you, saith the LORD of hosts:
5 According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came
out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.6 For
thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while,
and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and
the dry land;
7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations
shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the
LORD of hosts.
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of
hosts.
9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the
former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give
peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

The Second
Lesson
Acts 7:54-8:4
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart,
and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly
into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on
the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of
man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears,
and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses
laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was
Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay
not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell
asleep.
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there
was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem;
and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of
Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great
lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every
house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where
preaching the word.

The First
Lesson
Numbers 20:14-29
14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom,
Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that
hath befallen us:
15 How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in
Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:
16 And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent
an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold,
we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:
17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not
pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will
we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's
high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left,
until we have passed thy borders.
18 And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I
come out against thee with the sword.
19 And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the
high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will
pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through
on my feet.
20 And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out
against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border:
wherefore Israel turned away from him.
22 And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed
from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.
23 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the
coast of the land of Edom, saying,
24 Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not
enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel,
because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.
25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount
Hor:
26 And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar
his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall
die there.
27 And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into
mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon
Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount:
and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.29 And
when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned
for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.

The Second
Lesson
Luke 1:67-80
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and
prophesied, saying,
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and
redeemed his people,
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house
of his servant David;
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have
been since the world began:
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand
of all that hate us;
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember
his holy covenant;
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of
the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of
our life.
76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest:
for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his
ways;
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission
of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring
from on high hath visited us,
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow
of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in
the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.

The First
Lesson
Zechariah 1:7-17
7 Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which
is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word
of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of
Iddo the prophet, saying,
8 I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and
he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and
behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.
9 Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that
talked with me said unto me, I will show thee what these be.
10 And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and
said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro
through the earth.
11 And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the
myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the
earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
12 Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts,
how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities
of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore
and ten years?
13 And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good
words and comfortable words.
14 So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou,
saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem
and for Zion with a great jealousy.
15 And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at
ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward
the affliction.
16 Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem
with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of
hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
17 Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through
prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet
comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

The
Second Lesson
Acts 8:5-25
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached
Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things
which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he
did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many
that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and
that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime
in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria,
giving out that himself was some great one:
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest,
saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had
bewitched them with sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning
the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized,
both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized,
he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles
and signs which were done.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria
had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they
might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the
Holy Ghost.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles'
hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay
hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because
thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with
money.21 Thou
hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not
right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if
perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and
in the bond of iniquity.
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me,
that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of
the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many
villages of the Samaritans.

The First
Lesson
Numbers 21:4-9
4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea,
to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much
discouraged because of the way.
5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore
have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?
for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul
loatheth this light bread.
6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they
bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned,
for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto
the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed
for the people.
8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and
set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one
that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole,
and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when
he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

The Second
Lesson
Luke 2:1-20
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree
from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor
of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth,
into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;
(because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished
that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was
no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the
field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory
of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring
you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will
toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them
into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go
even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass,
which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and
the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying
which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which
were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for
all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto
them.

The First
Lesson
Zechariah 2
1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with
a measuring line in his hand.
2 Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure
Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the
length thereof.
3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and
another angel went out to meet him,
4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem
shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of
men and cattle therein:
5 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round
about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
6 Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith
the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the
heaven, saith the LORD.
7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of
Babylon.
8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent
me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you
toucheth the apple of his eye.
9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall
be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD
of hosts hath sent me.
10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and
I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.
11 And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day,
and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee,
and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto
thee.
12 And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land,
and shall choose Jerusalem again.13 Be
silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out
of his holy habitation.

The Second
Lesson
Acts 8:26-40
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise,
and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem
unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an
eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians,
who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem
for to worship,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the
prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself
to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet
Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And
he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was
led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before
his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall
declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of
whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other
man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture,
and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water:
and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me
to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou
mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ
is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went
down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he
baptized him.
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of
the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more:
and he went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached
in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.